When it comes to driving, tyres are like sensible shoes: you resent paying your hard earned cash on decent ones, but you don’t have a choice. Whether you are a car enthusiast or not, you probably want to make sure that your tyres last as long as possible. Here’s how you can make them last.
- Regular pressure checks are the easiest way to make your tyres last longer. The wrong tyre pressure not only makes it harder to handle your vehicle and impacts your stopping distance, but it makes your tyres wear out more quickly too. Monthly checks, as well as a quick check before and after a particularly long journey and if the weather changes dramatically, can help prevent unnecessary wear.
- Rotating your tyres every 5000 miles can help to even out the wear on them. Depending on whether they are front or rear drive, your front or rear tyres will wear more quickly than the others. By moving your front tyres to the back, and the back ones forward, you can make them last a little longer by averaging out the wear.
- Stay aligned – it is really important that you get your wheels aligned when you have new ones fitted, and every six months thereafter. Something as simple as hitting a kerb, barrier or pothole can make your tyres go out of alignment. This will impact your fuel efficiency and make your tyres wear out more quickly. If you feel that the car is dragging to one side, even if you can’t pinpoint the impact that may have affected your alignment, book it in for a check to be on the safe side.
- Keep your balance. It is surprising to think that, with something as heavy as a fully laden car, even the tiniest change in tyre weight distribution can change the balance of the wheels. And poor balance will cause your tyres to wear out much more quickly. Even the tiniest difference in weight of a precision-moulded tyre can cause vibrations which lead to excessive wear. Getting your balance checked can help to avoid that wear – and avoid you having to pay out for a new tyre too soon.
- Buy right – when laying out for new tyres it can often be tempting to just opt for the cheapest one available. However, choosing cheap isn’t always mean best and it is important that you get the right tyres for your vehicle and the anticipated amount and nature of usage. Speak to your local tyre specialists; they will be able to tell you the best tyre for you and will take budget into account without risking safety.
As with most elements of vehicle maintenance, if you take a little time and spend a little money now, you could save money - and lives - further down the line. If in doubt, speak to your mechanic. For more tips and advice on keeping you and other road users happy and safe, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.